PNicholls

At the time of writing , I see an online survey on next week's Bet365 Gold Cup shows that 22 per cent of the voters/punters think Kauto Star will win, and 18 per cent side with Mon Parrain. The pair are priced up at 8/1 and 7/1 respectively by the bookmakers.

Well, I can tell you now that Mon Parrain will almost certainly not be winning, as he almost certainly does not run.

I am still scratching my head as to how he got beat in the Topham. He jumped superbly once again and looked sure to win jumping the last - an opinion I gather was shared with Betfair customers who backed him into as low as 1.04 in-running - but he has been put away for the season. And he will probably be aimed at the Paddy Power Gold Cup next term, all being well.

And I would definitely hold my Sandown bets on Kauto Star, too.

Kauto obviously has the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown on May 4 as another possible target, but nothing will be decided until I sit down with owner Clive Smith. And that is probably a discussion for Sunday morning.

My Grand National runners What a Friend and Niche Market won't be in the field, but other possibles of mine include The Tother One, Gullible Gordon and Meanus Dandy.

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